C/E light went on last night, pulled out the code and it was left front heated o2 sensor. I did a visual check on the plug/wiring for the left plug located in front of the valve cover and it looked fine. So I reset the ECU and the C/E light hasn't popped back on yet.

Is there something/ somewhere else I should be looking for?

Ange

PS- Thanks to MrConfused for his expertise over the phone.

 

yes.. this link..

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=45274

 

If the O2 sens doesn't start switching within a specified amount of time the ECU thinks that it has not warmed up fast enough. The O2 heater is in the O2 sens and if the sens is lazy or the heater is not working efficiently it will set that code. I the code sets again I would replace the sens. And make sure you use a factory sens. The aftermarket ones are not reliable. I don't know how many miles you have but this is not uncommon after 60k.

 

I'm at 61K and change right now. Time to get tune-up. The harness and connection 'looks' fine. If the C/E light comes on again and produce the same error code, I will have to replace the sensor.

 

mmm fun, i got that code also and found out my 02 sensor fuse was blown. put in another one and it blew again, so we traced it down to a short in the rear O2 sensor, it was the 02 sensor wire grounding out so we had to replace the whole sensor. basically it was the left 02 sensor code but it was actually te right o2 sensor that had the prob.

 

Strange, so I should disconnect the front right o2 sensor (right bank in front of the valve cover) and visually check it?

 

Damn. Just got the code again today. Funny thing is that if I leave the car overnight outside and it rains, when I start the car up, the CEL will appear after just a few seconds. Not every time but it has happened 3 times in the last month under the same scenario. I think I'm going to pull the sensor, check and clean the contacts, then reinsert. I have about 74k miles.

 

you could, but i dont think a visual is gonna help much. If the code doesnt come back dont worry about it, but theres a way you can test out the 02 sensor and circuit. its not always the 02 sensor itself that goes bad.

 

Just short of 1 year, the same code came up again.

Looks like I have to replace the sensor. I hope it's just the sensor that's gone bad and not anything else (ie Knock Sensor).

BTW- I've been using Mobil or Exxon 92 octane so I don't think this was a problem caused by using the wrong fuel grade.

 

You are right to say that the sensor needs to be replaced. And don't worry about the knock sensor. If you JUST pulled an O2 sensor code, then the knock sensor is still good. And even if you did pull a knock sensor WITH the O2 sensor, it is just the O2 sensor that needs replaced. Since you have the replace the front left, you might as well replace the front right. Sensors go bad eventually, so you might as well kill two birds with one stone......BTW, here is a cheaper place to get the BOSCH (OEM) O2 Sensors from. www.foreignpartsplace.com . Good Luck.....

 

Thanks a lot for the info.
There are two types of replacement sensor+connector part available (see below)... which one?

NTK Oxygen Sensor by NGK


Bosch

 

mines look like the bottom ones

 

same here

 

The correct one to go with is the BOSCH O2 Sensor. They are OEM for our car. If you take out the O2 Sensor you have in it now, it is labeled BOSCH. If I were you, which I was in your shoes a while back, I would replace them with the OEM (BOSCH) sensor. I don't have a lot of info on the quality or durability of NGK O2 Sensors. Good luck Angie.....